Karen vs Rachel
Karen and Rachelcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #98 and Rachel #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #100 and Rachel #12 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Rachel #34 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Rachel #96 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Rachel #394 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #428 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
Karen and Rachel over time
Karen and Rachel appear together in 6 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Karen in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Karen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Rachel in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Rachel moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #21 and #23 the year before became #31 and #22.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Karen and Rachel averaged 33.1 places apart, ending at #100 and #12.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Rachel were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 58 years, from 1951 to 2024, ending at #428 and #472.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls58 shared years, 1951–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Rachel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #71 in 1954, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #428, Rachel #472.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rachel in 33.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 1987: Rachel moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #19 and #21; by 1987 that had become #22 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Rachel #96.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Rachel #394.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1965–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Rachel in 16.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1965, Rachel #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 1971: Rachel moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #3 and #4; by 1971 that had become #6 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #100, Rachel #12.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1968–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rachel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1968, Rachel #12 in 1974.
The order changed in 1980: Rachel moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #21 and #23; by 1980 that had become #31 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #98, Rachel #12.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Rachel #7 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karen #430, Rachel #34.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Karen | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Karen and Rachel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Karen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1963 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #394 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls